Includes natural changes (cyclic variability, volcanic eruptions, solar output) and human-caused changes (due to GHG emissions and land use changes)

Introducing the Local Climate Analysis Tool (LCAT)

July 15, 2013

NOAA unveiled this powerful new tool in July 2013 to help users produce data-driven answers to climate-related questions. The tool helps users link local weather and water events to signals in the climate system; understand how global climate change contributes to local climate trends; and explore how climate variability contributes to local impacts. Registration is required to use LCAT.

U.S. Energy Sector Vulnerabilities to Climate Change and Extreme Weather

July 12, 2013

The U.S. Department of Energy released this report in July 2013 as part of the President's efforts to support planning for climate change & U.S. energy security. The report examines current and potential climate-related impacts on the energy sector and identifies activities to address these challenges.

The President's Climate Action Plan

July 9, 2013

In a speech at Georgetown University on June 25, President Obama announced a series of executive actions to reduce carbon pollution, prepare the United States for the impacts of climate change, and lead international efforts to address global climate change.

Pacific Islands Climate Education Partnership

March 20, 2013

This partnership has developed a detailed strategic plan to collaboratively improve climate knowledge among the region’s students and citizens in ways that exemplify modern science and indigenous environmental knowledge, address the urgency of climate change impacts, and honor indigenous cultures.

The Island Climate Update

March 20, 2013

The Island Climate Update is a monthly summary of the climate in the tropical South Pacific islands, with an outlook for the coming months, to assist in dissemination of climate information in the Pacific region. This bulletin is a multi-national project with collaboration from a number of Pacific nations and support from various organizations.

2013 Draft National Climate Assessment

February 10, 2013

Global climate is changing, and this is apparent across the U.S. in a wide range of observations. Rising temperatures, changes in precipitation and extreme events and their causes and impacts on society and the environment are chronicled in the 2013 National Climate Assessment. A team of over 240 experts compiled the report, which is open for public comment through April 12, 2013.

Climate Normals

December 28, 2012

Climate normals are the average values of meteorological parameters -- such as temperature, precipitation, frost/freeze data, and snowfall data -- over 30-year spans. The climate normals data help describe typical climate conditions for a given place and time of year, and are used as a baseline to which current conditions can be compared.

This interactive shows the extent of the killing of lodgepole pine trees in western Canada. The spread of pine beetle throughout British Columbia has devastated the lodgepole pine forests there. This animation shows the spread of the beetle and the increasing numbers of trees affected from 1999-2008 and predicts the spread up until 2015.

In this video the Pentagon's focus on climate change is described as a significant factor as the military examines potential risks, strategic responses, and impacts of climate change on future military and humanitarian missions. In 2010, for the first time, the Pentagon focused on climate change as a significant factor in its Quadrennial Defense Review of potential risks and strategic responses.